Battery lighting outfit.



W. B. SCHULTE. 'BATTERY LIGHTING OUTFlT.

- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25. 19:8.

Patented Dee. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

By l,

A TTORNEKS W. B. SCHULTE.

BATTERY LIGHTING OUTFIT.

APPLlcATloN FILED 1uNE25. 19:8.

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WALTER. B. 'sc nnLTn, or MADIsoN, WISCONSIN, AsSIGNoR To BUnGEsS BATTERY COMPANY, or MADISON, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or WISCONSIN.

BiATTERY LIGHTING OUTFIT;

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led June 25, 1918. Serial No. 241,766.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WALTER B. SCHULTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane, State of Wisconsin, have invented' certain new and useful Improvements `in Battery Lighting Outfits; and I d0 hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willV enableothrs skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

The present inventionwelates to battery lighting outfits; and it comprises an improved device of the general class or character indicated which embodies a lamp carrier and a hand 1am-p connectible together by flexible conductors. of considerable length, thereby enabling the lamp carrier'to be fitted on the head, arm or yother portion yoi the body of the user, and the hand lamp to be inserted in a conveniently-,located pocket in his clothes, leaving both hands of the user free.` The invention .is primarily designed for use for military purposes; and, when worn in the manner above referred to, renders it possible for the soldier, if on night Sentry duty, to inspect a .person approaching his post without requiring the constant use of one hand to hold and manipulate the lamp as would otherwise be the case; and, similarly, if on signal; inspection or repair duty at night, to have the Afree use of both hands in actuating the sign-al devices or apparatus,

-and in examining and repairing the munitions, machineryor other materials involved, as well as 1n carrying out other operatlons of like nature.

The invention resides primarily in providing, in a battery lighting Cut-fit, an interchangeable arrangement of parts which enables the lamp element 'proper,c. e., the

' bulb, reflector and lensof a standard hand.

lamp to 'be -removedtherefrom-and inserted in a socket in the carrier,"and its placetaken Iby a plug which is shaped Aais-mtlne counterpart 'ofcthereliector and is connectedv by the arbre-mentioned flexible conductors with the carrier socket. The terminals of the concluctorsare connected lwith the nlug in such away that the movement of the controlling switch Carried bythe hand lamp will` close and open the lamp circuit in the usual-man- Y ner. The lamp element, and the plug are readily insertible vand removable from the carrier and hand lamp; and since the Vazforesaid lamp element Inlay be applied with equal ease to either the hand lamp or the carrier, it will be apparent that the .former may be used in the ordinary way without being connected tothe carrier, or may, alternatively, be utilized as a part of the complete device including the said carrier. When put to the latter use, it is merely necessary to manipulate the switch to close the lamp circuit, after which the circuit will remain closed until broken by reverse manipulation of the switch,`

The construction of parts is preferably such as to of the contacts attached to the plug, so as to permit the latter to 'be used in cases of different types, the adjustment of said Contact userving to position it for engagement with the coperating Contact in the battery circuit.

Other and further objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention proceeds; but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise disclosure here presented, excepting in so far as may be necessitated by the language of the. appended claims, since modifications an-d Figure 1 is a view showing the complete invention in use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, for the most part in section, showing thel invention removed from the wearer v Fig. 3 is a fragmental, sectional vie-w showing the reflector and asso-cia-ted parts constituting vthe lamp element in place in the lamp case .l Fig. 4 is a detail view of the plug;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views respectively showing the plug and' lamp element .applied to a diiierent type of case; and

Figs.r 7 and 8 are' views similar, respectively, to Figs. 5 and 6,.but showing the application of the plug and lampl element to another type of case. Y ferring more particularly to the drawin s,-the two main parts of the improved 2 by thefnumerals 1 andQ, andjare shown as connected with each other by the flexible Patented Dec. 3, 19.18. n

lig ting outfit, viz; the hand lamp and the. lamp carrier, are indicated in Figs. 1 and conductors 3. The hand lamp 1 may vary su'lating strips 10 disposed against its opposite faces. The outer face of the lower insulating strip has disposed against it, in turn,

a metal strip' or plate 1l, the latter directly engaging the terminal of the electrode'7, while the upper insulating strip supports the base member of the contact 8, which in this instance is substantially Z-shaped. The parts 8,9, 1() and 11are all connected together in superposed relation by means of rivets 12, but the openings in the bridge part 9 through which said rivets pass are sufficiently large tov yprevent the rivets from contacting with the edges thereof, whereby the bridge is kept insulated from the contact 8 and plate 11, as will be understood.

The terminal of the contact 8 is designed for engagement with a coperating contact provided either on the lamp element or the plug, according as one or the other of those parts is applied to the lamp case. The lamp element comprises a metal reflector 13, which j is approximately parabolic in shape and is formed at its upper edge with an out-turned flange 14 and at its bottom with a threaded, axial neck or stem 15 to receive the stem of the bulb 16. The flange 14 extends outwardly across the in-turned upper edge of a threaded collar 1.7, which is fitted over and secured to the upper end of the lamp case, and serves as a support for the lens 18,;the latten being held inf-place by means of Ja threaded sleeve 19 that is removably engaged with the collar 17 and is formed at its upper edge with aclalmping lip 20. The

Jplug is constructed,l in effect, as a counterpart in shape of the llamp element, as has already been stated, its metal outer part or shell 21 having exactly the same shape and size as the reflector 13 and being made, in fact, by the same dies as saidreilector.' This .shell 21 incases a similarly shaped body part 22 of insulating material having an axial `recess 23, in the lower end f which is fitted an -afljustable'contact for coperation with the contact. 8, the said adjustable contact comprising outer and inner telescopicallyconnected members 24 and 2,5, here shown as provided, respectively, with internal and externalthreads, the arrangement being such i as to enable the inner contact member 25 to Y' l ,bemoved inwardly or outwardly of the outer member 24.` The upper edge of the plug is `Contact i lsleeve 318,` so that when the contacts 8 and formed with anoutwardly projecting lip 26 for engagement by the lip 20 on collar 19, or, alternatively, by: an auxiliary clamping device 27 in the form of a metal'ring which is provided with a series of depending spring fingers 28, as hereinafter explained. The aforesaid lip 26 overhangs the outwardlyprojecting flange 29 on the upper end of the shell 21, the latter being preferably fastened to the insulating body part 22 by pins 30 or other suitable devices. Both conductors 3 are attached'at one end to the plug, one conductor extending through the enlarged upper portion of the recess-23 and terminating in a head 31. which fits in the open upper end of the outer member 24 of the adjustable contact, While the other conductor extends through a branch passage 32 leading from the main passage or recess 23 and has itsl part -construction of the reflector and plug,

as above described, it will be apparent that either of those elements may be inserted in the end of the lamp case, and withdrawn therefromand replaced by the other when desired,l the element -so applied to the said .case being held in place by the lip 20 of the clamping sleeve 19, with its flange 14 or 29x resting upon the in-turned edge of the collar 17. When the reflector and its associated ybulb and lens are applied to the case of the lamp, the latter may be used as anhand lamp in the ordinary manner; but when the plug is inserted in the case, then the lamp element is applied to the' carrier 2, as shown in Fig. 2. ,The latter element may advantageously comprise a flexible strap 33, i

adapted'to be passed around the, forehead of the user, or around some otherppart of his body if desired, in'- which instance the lamp case is inserted in a pocket in the coat `of the user, for example, in the manner indi- .cated in Fig. 1, the ends of the strap being held together in adjusted position by a suita'ble buckle 34. The central portion of the strap is equipped with a socket for the lamp element, comprising a base 35 of insulating material which rests against and is secured to a pad 36, the latter being attachedto the F strap. Between the parts 35 and 36 is fastened a spring contact finger 37, which is designed 'to normally engage the inner terminal of the lamp, the outer terminal of which fits in the neck 15 of the refiect'or, said neck fitting in an internally-threaded metal sleeve 38 fixed in a recess provided for it in the base Ipart 35. The conductors 3 are stitched or otherwise secured to the head strap for` a portion `of their length, and their adjacentl terminals are connected, one'to the finger I37, and the other to the metal 25 are brought into engagement, the circuit will be closed and the bulb will be illuminated.- When the parts are assembled in the manner just described, the auxiliary clamp 27 is utilized to secure the lens to the reflector, said/clamp being applied to the-plug when the latter is removed from the lamp case, as represented in Fig. 4.

The spring contact 8 which ooacts with the adjustable contact 24, 25, to close the electric circuit'through the lamp, is shifted into and` out of circuit-closing position by means of a switch device which may be, as shown, of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent to'Hipwell and Hipwell, No. 1,149,913, issued August 10, 1915. Referencemay be had to said patent for a complete desorip- --tion of the said switch and its mode of operation, it being considered sullicient for all present purposes to state 'that it comprises a longitudinally arranged switch I'Qd 39, which is movable in either direction in the usual manner by a button or finger piece 40 secured to its lower lend, and which projects through a slot 41 in the bridge 9, said rod being provided at its upper end wi-th an angular tongue 42, the horizontal wing of -which extends toward and is soldered to the terminal ofthe said contact 8. The vertical wing of the tongue is secured -in insulated relation to the rod end in a manner-somewhat similar to that in which the parts 8,

9, 10 and l11 are fastened together. By virtue of this construction, the forward movement of the switch rod will cause the aforesaid horizontal operating` wing to press the terminal of the contact 8 in the -same direc' tion, thereby forcing it against the contact member 25, the parts being retained in this position bythe friction exerted upon the wall of the case by the insulating material associated with the linger piece yand switch rod. Similarly, rearward movement of the switch rod will result in the terminal portion of the contact being moved away from the adjustable7 contact, and,`consequently, in the breaking of the circuit. The lowermost cell 5 rests upon a helically coiled spring 43, which fitsin the bottom of thecase and establishes electrical connection inthe usual wayrhbetween said cell andA case.

to 8 differ from that just described onlj7 in the details of the switch or circuit-closing ydevi-ces, thefoperation and mode of use being substantially identical for all forms of the invention as a whole. In. the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the case 44 is made of insulating. material, liber for' example, instead of metal, and 1s provided upn its interiory with upper and lowerf'metallic contact strips 45 and 46 which are Isecured theretowby pairs of rivets 47 and, 48 respectively. rIhex lower rivet 48 provides electrical connection"between the strip 46 and lthe e constructions represented in Figs. 5

f a reflector; of a Hector in place in said casing;

metal socket 49 at the bottom of the case, wh1le the upper rivet 48 provides electrical connection with a slotted metallic housing 50 and also serves in part as the attaching means for said housing. The rivet 47 at the lower end of the strlp 45 'projects within the housing and functions as a contact for 'engagement by a spring contact linger 51 slidably disposed within the housing and operated by a finger piece or -bu-tton 52, the upper end of said strip 45 being ben-t slightly inward so as to engage either the reflector 13 of the lamp element or they metal shell 2l of the plug, according as one or the other ci' those parts is applied tothe lamp case. The projecting end yof the central electrode 7 of the uppermost cell is directly ,engagea-ble with the adjustable inner member of the plug contact 24, 25, or alternatively, with the inner terminal of the lamp bulb 16, this also holdin good for the construction illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. The flanges 14 and' 29 rest upon the upper edge of the v liber case, but do not extend far enough across it to contact with either the collar 17 or the sleeve 19.

In the construction last mentioned, as in the rst form, the lamp case 53 is made of metal and a sliding switch rod 54 is employed, said rod being operated by a nger Hector or to the flange 29 on the metal shell' of the plug, according as one orthe other of those parts is fitted in the lamp case, it being understood that this ring can be readily removed from :the flange of one of the parts and applied to that of the other part, prior to the insertion of the latter part in the lamp case. y

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination, with a battery hand lamp having a casing, a vbattery therein and a lamp element comprising a bulb, a lens and plug adapted to replace said lamp element in establishing electrical connection with said battery; and flexible conductors connected to said plug, substantially as described. I

2. The combination, with a battery hand lamp having a casing, and a lamp element comprising a bulb, al lens and a reflector, and a lens-supporting sleeve for holding said reof a plug adaptedto replace said lamp element in es- .tablishing electrical connection with the battery, and to be engaged bysaid sleeve under such condition; and flexible conductors connected to said plug, substantially as described.

3. The combination, With a battery hand lamp having a lamp element Which comprises a lens and a reflector, and a sleeve engaging said lens and holding said lamp element in place; of a reflector-shaped plug adapted to replace said lamp element in establishing' electrical connection with the battery, and to be engaged by said sleeve under such condition; and flexible conductors connected to said plug, substantially as described.

4. The combination, With a batteryhand lamp having a lamp element which comprises a reflector, and a sleeve :tor holding said lamp element in place; of a reflectorshaped plug adapted to replace said lamp element and having a central lterminal to establish electrical connection With the bat-- tery, flexible conductors connected toy said plug; and a lamp socket connected to said conductors. v 5. The combination, With a battery hand lamp having a reiector, a bulb in said reflector, and means clamping said reflector in p0- sition; of a plug adapted to replace said reflector and bulb in establishing electrical connection With the battery; flexible conductors connected to said plug; and a socket connected to said conductors and in which said bulb Will lit.

6. The combination, With a battery hand lamp having^ a reflector, a bulb therein, and means clamping said reflector in position; of a reflector-shaped plug adapted to replace said reflector under said clamping means and having a central contact ,toA take the place of said bulb in completing electrical connection With the battery; flexible conductors connected with said plug; and a socket connected with said conductors and adapted to receive said bulb and reflector.

7. The combination, with a battery hand lamp having areliector, ay bulb therein, a lens for said bulb and a sleeve for clamping said lens and reflector in position; of aplug adapted to replace said reflector and lens under said sleeve; flexible conductors leading from said plug; a socket connected to said I conductors and adapted to\receive said bulb with its reiiector; and auxiliary means for securing said lens to said reflector.

8. An attachment for battery hand lamps,

comprising a plug adapted to replace the4 bulb, the reflector and the lens thereof; flexible conductors connected with said plug; a socket connected With said conductors and adapted to receive said bulb; and a Supporting strap secured to said socket.

9. An attachment tor battery hand lamps, -comprising a plug ladapted to replace the bulb, the reflector and the lensthereof, said plug having a reflector-shaped metal part through which one battery connection is established and ,an insulating part provided with a central contact through Which the other battery connection is established; flexible conductors connectedvvith said plug; a socket connected With said conductors and adapted to receive the bulb; and a strap connected With said socket.

10. The combination', with a battery hand lamp, having a rellector, a bulb therein, a lens for said bulb and means for clamping said lens and rellector in position; of a plug a reflector, a\bulb therein, a' I bulb and means for clamping adapted to replace said-lens and reflector in 'l adapted to resaid lens and reflector in position; of a plug adapted to replace said lens and reflector in establishing electrical connection with the battery, and to be engaged by said clamping means under such condition; flexible `conductors leading from'said plug; a socket connected to said conductors andadapted to lreceive said' bulb with its reector; and auxiliary means for securingsaid lens to said reliector Whenthe latter ls'received 1n sa1d socket, said auXlllary means being normally attachable to said plug., e

In testimony whereof I'aliiir-my signature.

WALTER B 1-scHUL'rE. 

